[JohnnySolo]

My control panel (lights, electric start) and neutral light won't work. The neutral light turns on however when I jump start my solenoid. Is this a wiring problem? If so how do I go about checking everything?

 

[Carolynskii]

If you have to jump start it because the battery is dead then there's nothing to power the dash.

 

[JohnnySolo]

Used to i would, i went and changed battery and already installed new solenoid so I can't jump start it now since new solenoid. But i still cant electric start nor can i see neutral light on when I turn key, and before someone asks. Yes I am sure it's in neutral lol.

 

[JohnnySolo]

Should've said my atv, Honda Recon 250 '04

 

[UnkleRaRa]

Are there any fuses you haven't checked?

 

[JohnnySolo]

I have checked the one, seems fine. What will it look like if it's bad? Figured it be like black and smokey colored. Also my battery I got was pretty cheap and much smaller than my other battery, like half the size. But I put it on my charger and it registered as full 12v. But could be possible it's not strong enough even though it's 12v, to control everything?

 

[XplicitRacing6]

The fuse should look like the pic on the left. The pic on the far right is burnt out. As far as the battery goes, it could not be enough power but I'm not 100% sure lets see what UnkleRaRa thinks.
Edit: Does the starter even turn over? Or does it now even try to crank

 

[JohnnySolo]

Starter is good, I'm starting to think it's battery. The ATV im 90% sure will crank, just gotta get home and put new spark Plug in. It's just I can't electric starts neither can I turn on lights and so for

 

[XplicitRacing6]

Does it have a backup kick start? If you can get it running you can run off the alternator to see if you lights work. If you don't then completely ignore what I just said.

 

[UnkleRaRa]

Only other thing I could think of is the CCA's of the new battery aren't up to snuff to get it started.

Does the new battery list the CCA's?

 

[SamUK]

What Ah (Amp hour) is the battery, should be 10 to 12Ah. Even with a smaller battery you would get a light show up if the battery was good. What make (brand) is the battery?

Have you got a multimeter (voltmeter)? Ideally you need to check the battery first and then check all connections including all earths (grounds). Odds on you have a bad connection some where, as for the starter, I’d say a bad earth.

 

[JohnnySolo]

Not sure if I have a kickstart

 

[JohnnySolo]

It is a cheap battery from Battery Sharks. It say 12V idk about amperage. I put it on charger and it registered 12V

 

[_Wilson_]

Not sure if I have a kickstart

Should have a rope (pull starter)

 

[SamUK]

It is a cheap battery from Battery Sharks. It say 12V idk about amperage. I put it on charger and it registered 12V

Nearly all batteries will have some kind of writing on them. Next to 12v will be the Ah, so something like, 12v 10Ah.
You can’t test a batteries voltage from a charger, it’s just not accurate enough unfortunately, you need a multimeter (voltmeter).


I really think you need to confirm that this ‘cheap’ battery is actually good. Even a scrap battery can read 12v, it’s the Amps that you need to start your ATV.


I’m the mean time all I can suggest is to check all of your earth connections, check all plug connections, switches, fuses etc. Whilst doing this look for damage to the wires and the wiring harness.

 

[JohnnySolo]

Not sure if I have a kickstart

Should have a rope (pull starter)

It is a cheap battery from Battery Sharks. It say 12V idk about amperage. I put it on charger and it registered 12V

Nearly all batteries will have some kind of writing on them. Next to 12v will be the Ah, so something like, 12v 10Ah.
You can’t test a batteries voltage from a charger, it’s just not accurate enough unfortunately, you need a multimeter (voltmeter).


I really think you need to confirm that this ‘cheap’ battery is actually good. Even a scrap battery can read 12v, it’s the Amps that you need to start your ATV.


I’m the mean time all I can suggest is to check all of your earth connections, check all plug connections, switches, fuses etc. Whilst doing this look for damage to the wires and the wiring harness.

When i get home i will put sparkplug in and try pull starting it. Also I will look at battery. I may end up taking battery to AutoZone and test it's amperage.

 

[SamUK]

So you have no spark plug in at the moment or are you replacing it because the old one is discoloured or burnt out?

Yes, get your battery ‘drop tested’ (that’s an old term it may not be done in that way now) or the equivalent service that your local store can offer.

 

[JohnnySolo]

So you have no spark plug in at the moment or are you replacing it because the old one is discoloured or burnt out?

Yes, get your battery ‘drop tested’ (that’s an old term it may not be done in that way now) or the equivalent service that your local store can offer.

Yeah spark plug is black and offly old. When i get home I'm putting new one in, got new one in yesterday.

 

[Carolynskii]

Also fuses don't always necessarily have a burn mark mark. Check the thin line inside of it and see if it's broken or just buy a new one to rule it out.

 

[moesother]

You can test the fuses with a multimeter. Set it to ohms position and touch the leads together and note the value. Then touch leads to each end of the fuse. The value should be close to what you got when you touched the leads together. IE little to no change in resistance.